Tiny Home Village Advances, Veterans Housing Nears Completion in Port Jervis

Rumshock Foundation leaders, BOCES instructors and local contractors reported significant progress on November 18 toward delivering the first two of ten tiny homes at the Tri States entrance to Port Jervis. The houses, each 20 X 20 and 400 square feet, were constructed in two sections by students in the Orange Ulster BOCES Career and Technical Education Carpentry program, and are slated to be transported on trailers by the National Guard and craned onto poured concrete, weather proofed foundations already completed in Rumshock Village.

Corey Moore, BOCES instructor who guided students through design, supply logistics and inspections over two years, said the learning curve has been overcome and efficiency has improved. “The next houses will be much easier now that the process has been worked through the first two. The students have learned what is needed and have gained experience with each step of building to industry standards,” Moore said. “They have memorized the process, and everything is going faster and smoother with each house.”

Site work and utility connections were overseen by a general contractor that began coordinating parts of the project in 2024. Joe Barth of B& B Excavation Services LLC said water and sewer service supplied by Port Jervis and electrical service by Orange and Rockland will be completed ahead of finishing work. “B& B is honored to be a part of this project and is dedicated to delivering a great product for the veterans that get to call this place home,” said Barth. Construction of a main community building on the site was expected to begin by late November, with finishing of tiny homes to follow and the overall project targeted for completion in 2026.

Funding for land purchase and construction has combined public grants and private donations, including state support for the 2020 property purchase and a one million dollar federal grant secured in 2024. Congressman Pat Ryan, who helped obtain the federal funding, framed the effort as a local response to veteran homelessness. “No veteran should be without a home in the country they put their lives on the line to defend. I pushed relentlessly to get this project included in this year’s budget, and I couldn’t be more proud to have secured these funds for the Rumshock Veterans Village to address veteran homelessness in Orange County,” said Ryan. “This would not have been possible without the inspiring work of Bill Whetsel, Councilman Siegel’s vision, or the support of the Port Jervis community. The Rumshock Veterans Village is a shining example of what is possible when we come together to support our nation’s heroes.”

Project leaders said each home will include shallow solar roofs and systems for water collection and rooftop hydroponic planting, and that interior finishing and community programming will be completed by a mix of volunteers and contractors. A list of prospective veteran occupants is being compiled with help from local officials. As a volunteer driven foundation the group continues to solicit donations of household goods and additional volunteer support to ready the village for move in.